Unraveling the Real-World Impacts of Cyber Incidents on Individuals

With the increase in ubiquitous technology and the rise in cyber threats, individuals are exposed to cyber events that can cause significant harm. Every individual is at risk, even those with expertise and experience. The cascading harms of a cyber-attack can lead to short-term and long-term consequences for the victim. The narratives that emerge from individual experiences with cyber threats paint a vivid picture of the prevailing harm landscape. Here, we describe a semi-structured interview study of 18 participants who were either victims of a cyber-related incident or have been exposed to threats, providing a more comprehensive picture of everyday people’s challenges, harms, and needs. This paper examines the research question: What experiences do individuals face after a cyber-related incident? Several key themes are presented in this article.